Golitsyna Natalia Petrovna
Princess Natalia Petrovna Golitsyna (nee Chernysheva) was a maid of honor at the court of four emperors — from Catherine II to Nicholas I, a stateswoman and a lady of the Order of St. Catherine. She is known as the prototype of the main character of A. S. Pushkin's novel "The Queen of Spades". In society, she was called Princesse Moustache ("Mustachioed Princess") or Fée Moustachine ("Mustachioed fairy").
Origins and early years
Date of birth: sources differ: January 17 (28), 1741 or 1744.
Place of birth: Berlin, where her father, Count Peter Grigorievich Chernyshev, served as a diplomat.
Family: daughter of Count P. G. Chernyshev and Ekaterina Andreevna Ushakova. She came from a family of "new people" who rose under Peter I.
She spent her childhood and youth in Europe (England, France), where she received a brilliant education. She spoke four languages and was an excellent horsewoman.
Career and social life
At the age of 21, she became a notable maid of honor to Catherine II.
In 1765, she attracted the attention of the Empress by playing in a house performance by Count P. B. Sheremetev.
In the summer of 1766, she won a high‑society carousel tournament in St. Petersburg and Moscow. For her beauty and agility in dancing, she received a personal gold medal with the image of Catherine II.
On October 30, 1766, she married Prince Vladimir Borisovich Golitsyn. The wedding took place with the participation of the Empress, who decorated the bride's hairstyle with diamonds.
She became a stateswoman, was awarded the Order of St. Catherine: II degree (1801), I degree (1826).
Living abroad and returning to Russia
In 1783, she left with her family for France "for the education of her children and her husband's health." She was received at Mary's court.‑Antoinette, where she was called the "Moscow Venus".
She visited London (1789), where the future King George IV presented her with his autographed portrait.
She returned to Russia in 1790 due to disturbing news about the French Revolution.
In St. Petersburg, she held a high-society salon on Malaya Morskaya Street (house number 10), which was visited every Wednesday by representatives of the French emigration and the Russian nobility.
Nature and management of property
She had a firm, "masculine" character. She took over the management of her husband's upset household and not only put it in order, but also significantly increased her income.
After her death, she left 16,000 serfs, many villages, houses and estates throughout Russia.
She was distinguished by her arrogance and severity: for example, her son Dmitry Vladimirovich, the Moscow governor‑general, could not sit in his mother's presence without her permission for the rest of his life.
Connection with Pushkin's "Queen of Spades"
It is considered the prototype of the old countess in A. S. Pushkin's novel "The Queen of Spades" (1834).
According to legend, her great-nephew, having lost at cards, turned to her for help. Instead of money, she allegedly told him three cards ("three, seven, ace"), suggested to her once in Paris by the adventurer Saint‑Germain. These cards helped him win back. Pushkin used this plot, although there is no documentary evidence of Golitsyna's meeting with Saint‑Germain.
Pushkin noted: "At court, they found similarities between the old countess and the prince. Natalia Petrovna, and they don't seem to be angry."
Last years and death
She lived a long life, and saw the reign of six emperors: Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III, Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I, and Nicholas I.
She died on December 20, 1837 (January 1, 1838 New style) in St. Petersburg.‑In St. Petersburg at the age of 93.
She was buried in Moscow, in the tomb of the Golitsyns at the Donskoy Cemetery.
Natalia Petrovna Golitsyna went down in history as one of the brightest and most influential women of her time, a legend of high society, whose name became part of the Russian literary tradition.